Ladies Man

The world that greeted Cyrus beyond the territory of his birth pride was vast and intimidating. Sun-scorched deserts and unending horizons that swallowed the herds of prey whole, amber eyes and low giggles that awaited opportunity from the shadows, weighty loneliness in the absence of his former pridemates, that's what he was met with. He had to remind himself that this was what every lion would eventually feel. He couldn't go back, so he had to move forward.

His days spent wandering were long, but there were no shortage of curiosities. From the fragile beauties of the flowers and butterflies, to the unusual folk he met during the waterhole truces. They spoke of places so far away he could never hope to see in his lifetime, and of ancient lions who earned their tongue-told tales through shows of heart and courage. Though it made the world seem no less massive, it eased Cyrus's worries and filled him with inspiration. Perhaps he'd become like those legendary lions.

He met his first love out in a field sprinkled with termite mounds. Menhit had her nose in one of the nests, investigating with a curiosity that only Cyrus could match, and he approached quietly. A laugh gave away his presence when Menhit was suddenly bitten, and she yowled and bounced away. They made quick friends through their mutual interest in exploring all the small details around them, and through the exchange of playful teasing. They traveled together, learned together, watched the sun set together. And when they found the perfect place to see the dusk come, a large waterhole tipped by fancy, romantic, and topical trees, a few yarrows, and a den that opened to a wondrous view of the setting sky tipped with two ‘climbable’ large trees. They decided that this was the place they wanted to stay.